u/LisaAnnWatkins

A few of you asked me to post some progress updates on the little fox piece that I've been working on. This was still quite early on in the piece, but it shows a few of the stages.

The lower and right hand side is just blocked in with the underlayers. I used Derwent Drawing pencils for those base layers and then brushed them in to keep the feeling quite soft.

Top left is started to texturise a little using dark and mid tones. There's a mix of Polychromos, Pablos & Luminance for the upper layers.

I've also started to frame the subject using panpastels as I want the attention to lead into the main subject.

I've actually finished the piece now, so will add some more progress pics this week. I've added up the video footage and it's over 20 hours in total. The finished piece is just under 50x50cm and I worked it on anthracite Pastelmat board.

Initial stage of my next big portrait. Very excited to be working from one of my own reference photos for this one that I took last summer. A little fox cub peeking around the side of his den. It was a fab moment to witness, and I just had to turn it into a portrait.

Working on Pastelmat board for this one.

Well, that's my little play with complementary colours all finished. I loved how this worked out. I just wish I had chosen a better paper to work on, but the class was only meant to be a quick, sketchy piece.

Am sure I will work on another one like this soon. Am thinking blue & orange next 🤔

Cat on a hot tin roof

Polychromos on Derwent sketch paper. Full lesson is on my Patreon channel.

I've been teaching a fabulous reminder of the power of complementary colours this week. They can make each other sing, or completely neutralise each other to work in the shadows.

We are taking the lesson to the extreme with a yellow & purple cat project 💛💜 🐈 This is a quick work in progress photo. No edits or filters 😉

Colour pencil on sketch paper for this one. Oh, and the eagle eyed may spot a Fuschia in there. It helps the transitions between colours, and also maintains the vibrancy when working with colour pencils. It is helping to knock back any unwanted greens appearing from blue pigments hitting the yellows.

Tbh, it's fab to have a play and work with just a handful of pencils for a change 😊